I’ve recently posted about our family memorizing Luke 2 and the birth of Christ which are great ways to look past the shopping, the gifts, and the food to prepare, in order to just slow down and focus our hearts and mind on the true meaning of Christmas. However, it seems as though the older I get, the more I see Christmas not so much as the miraculous birth of Christ (which it definitely is), but more of the unfolding of God’s great plan and His deep love for us.

At this time of year, the question begs to be asked, ‘Why did God send His Son into the world?’ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice forour sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

Yes, Jesus had a miraculous coming into this world, but He was born to die…for us. Christmas is so much more than the birth of the baby. It is about the cross that Christ grew up to carry. His obedience to the Father. His deep love for us, even while we were still sinners. Jesus willingly left His heavenly throne to redeem His people.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David… (Luke 1:68-69)

When we celebrate Christmas — the birth of Christ and God’s great love for us, I can’t help but also reflect upon Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. At Christmas, we are truly rejoicing in the birth of our Savior – the One who has come to save us from our sins, the Almighty, All powerful, King of Kings, eternal God. To Him belongs all glory, honor, and praise.

Wonderful Cross Lyrics and song by Michael W. Smith

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died My Richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride

See from His head His hands His feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down Did ever such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Oh the wonderful cross (2x) Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live Oh the wonderful cross (2x) All who gather here by grace draw near and bless your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine That were an offering far too small Love so amazing so divine Demands my soul, my life, my all

Love so amazing, so divine Demands my soul, my life, my all and the beauty and the shame in the glory of His name

I saw this video shared on Facebook the other day and hesitantly clicked on the link. I was skeptical at first, but as I watched I began to get goose bumps. It is based off of the accounts in Matthew 1 and Luke 1-2 from the Bible. It was very creatively done, taking the account of the birth of Christ and all the related events -bringing them to life with the likely real emotions that accompanied each. The joy at the end with the typing of “It’s a Boy!” and “His name shall be Jesus.” are overpowering.

Rejoice! For our Savior has come!

This is just one of several Christmas videos that Igniter Media has created. The ‘Paradox of Christmas’ and ‘Retooning the Nativity’ are two others that I thought were well done also.

Our family has been trying to memorize Luke 2:1-20 this Christmas season. It was intended to be just for my husband and I with the oldest three kids. However, our 2 1/2 year old has often been present while we are reciting it and has quickly caught on to the words. (Well, most of them.) I am pleasantly surprised each day at how much the littlest lives in our home are able to learn and process in their hearts and minds.

Our little one only attempted the first 11 verses and wasn’t able to say all of the words, so here is Luke 2:1-20 (NIV, 1984 version) in its entirety… (Free printables to use with the verses can be found here.)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christthe Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

I absolutely love this Christmas CD! From the traditional Christmas songs of ‘Come All Ye Faithful’ and ‘Joy to the World’ to the contemplative ‘While You Were Sleeping’ and the praise song of ‘Christmas Offering’, we have been enjoying this for a couple of weeks now. May it help to focus our hearts and minds on Christ.

“We bring an offering of worship to our King.
No one else on earth deserves the praises that we sing.
Jesus, may You receive the honor that You’re due…”from ‘Christmas Offering’ on the Peace On Earth CD by Casting Crowns

Each December, we work our way through the Nativity Story as found in the Bible. We do daily, sequential readings and related crafts with our three young children. No account of the Christmas story would be complete, however, without knowing and sharing why Jesus came and why His birth was and continues to be so important to each one of us.

In 1 John 4, verses 9 through 10, it states that, ” This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ” 1 John 4:14 continues to say, “…we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the World.”
Without Christ, we would still be heaped in our sins and completely seperated from God – without HOPE.

This was recently written from the heart of our 5 1/2 year old daughter right before delivering Christmas Gospel Cookies to our neighbors…
‘I hope you will know God the Father in Heaven and He will forgive…I hope that you will know that He is the Christ.’

Lord, December seems to be such a busy time – with gift giving and cards (and this year preperation for a new little one joining our family). Please help me to keep in the forefont of my mind this busy Christmas season the gracious gift of Your Son, Jesus – My Savior. Help me to continually see Christ in Christmas.